Before the at least partially true assertions came forward regarding Rev. Ted Haggard’s interactions with a male prostitute which included some form of massage and methamphetamines, Ted had one powerful resume.
Time Magazine has included Pastor Ted in their list of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America citing his weekly conference call with the White House. The Wall Street Journal noted his advisory role with the Bush White House, calling him one “of the nation’s most politically influential” clergy, and Harper’s Magazine says, “No pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism than does Pastor Ted.”
After the news broke, Ted’s stock as leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals dissipated like the 1929 Stock Market Crash. He stepped aside from his 14,000 strong church in Colorado Springs. And the White House picture shredding machine once again operated in full whine.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Haggard has visited the White House and has occasionally participated in outreach efforts by Bush aides to the evangelical leadership. But he played down suggestions that Haggard has close ties to the administration.
So much for those weekly phone calls to Bush staffers. Start up those Nixon era tape erasers! The church association also quickly changed tune on their national leader by calling him “a moderate”.
Although non-evangelicals may view Haggard as a diehard conservative, within the evangelical movement he is seen as a moderate, a religious expert said. "If the allegations are proven true, it could discredit a prominent moderate figure in the evangelical community."
Could one hope that religious people actually examine the underlying issues vs. scapegoating the fallen? Would that be too much to ask?
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